Allied Invasion of Southern France - Operation Dragoon, the Other D-Day_Full Length WWII Documentary - YouTube Allied Invasion of Southern France - Operation Dragoon, the Other D-Day_Full Length WWII Documentary Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. The interactive transcript could not be loaded. Loading... Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Published on Mar 9, 2013 ★ CHECK OUT OUR T-SHIRTS: ►Twitter: This video presents the story of Operation Dragoon in World War II. The original title of this video is: "Command Decision: The Invasion of Southern France (1963)". The documentary is a part of "The Big Picture" series produced by the U.S. Army. About Operation Dragoon: Operation Dragoon was the Allied invasion of southern France on 15 August 1944, during World War II. The invasion was initiated via a parachute drop by the 1st Airborne Task Force, followed by an amphibious assault by elements of the U.S.

Seventh Army, followed a day later by a force made up primarily of the French First Army. The landing caused the German Army Group G to abandon southern France and to retreat under constant Allied attacks to the Vosges Mountains. Despite being a large and complex military operation with a well-executed amphibious and airborne component, Operation Dragoon is not well known; it came in the later stages of the war and was overshadowed by the earlier and larger Operation Overlord. During planning stages, the operation was known as "Anvil", to complement Operation Sledgehammer, at that time the code name for the invasion of Normandy. Subsequently, both plans were renamed, Sledgehammer becoming Operation Overlord, and Anvil becoming Operation Dragoon. Operation Dragoon was controversial from the time it was first proposed. The American military leadership and their British counterparts disagreed on the operation. Churchill argued against it on the grounds that it diverted military resources that were better deployed in the on-going Allied operations in Italy; instead, he favoured an invasion of the oil-producing regions of the Balkans.

Churchill reasoned that by attacking the Balkans, the western Allies could deny Germany oil, forestall the advance of the Red Army of the Soviet Union, and achieve a superior negotiating position in post-war Europe, all at a single stroke. At the time Operation Anvil was first considered, the Allied landing at Anzio had gone badly and planning was put on ice. The operation, now renamed Dragoon, was revived after the successful execution of the Normandy landings, which freed vital amphibious assets. In addition, the Allies were struggling to resupply their growing forces in France, because the Germans had destroyed the port facilities at Cherbourg and a storm had damaged the artificial harbour at Omaha Beach. This made seizure and control of the French ports at Marseilles and Toulon increasingly attractive. The French leaders pressed for an invasion in southern France too. Finally on 14 July 1944 the operation was authorized by the Allied Combined Chiefs of Staff. Prior to the main invasion, the navy insisted that the Hyères Islands, Port-Cros and Levant, had to be neutralized. The guns of the German garrisons on both islands could reach the proposed Allied landing area and the sea lanes that the troops would follow.

The First Special Service Force, a joint U.S.-Canadian special forces unit trained in amphibious assault and mountaineering, received the order to take the islands as part of Operation Sitka. The preceding bombing missions together with resistance sabotage acts hit the Germans badly, interrupting railways, damaging bridges, and disrupting the communication network. The landing started on the morning of 15 August. The landings were overwhelmingly successful. On Delta and Alpha beaches, German resistance was low. The Osttruppen surrendered quickly, and the biggest threat to the Allies were the mines. A single German gun as well as a mortar position was silenced by destroyer fire. The Allied units in this sector were able to link up with the paratroopers very quickly and succeeded in capturing the nearby towns. Only on Camel Beach did the Germans put up some serious resistance. This beach was secured by several well emplaced coastal guns as well as several flak batteries. Here too, the Osttruppen surrendered quickly; the German artillery formed the main opposition and some bunkers provided heavy resistance. The most serious fighting was on Camel Red Beach at the town of Saint-Raphaël. A bombing run of 90 Allied B-24 bombers were used against a German strongpoint here.

But even with the assistance of naval fire, the Allies were not able to bring the landing ships close to the beach. They decided to avoid Camel Red and land only at Camel Blue and Camel Green, which was successful. The Allied casualties at the landings were very light, with only 95 killed and 385 wounded. Command Decision: The Invasion of Southern France (1963) Category World War II: Operation Dragoon Overview (1944) General of Infantry Friedrich Wiese 85,000-100,000 in the attack area, 285,000-300,000 in region Operation Dragoon - Background: Initially conceived as Operation Anvil, Operation Dragoon called for the invasion of southern France. First proposed by General George Marshall , Chief of Staff of the US Army, and intended to coincide with Operation Overlord , the landings in Normandy, the attack was put off due to slower than expected progress in Italy as well as a lack of landing craft. Further delays ensued after the difficult amphibious landings at Anzio in January 1944.

As a result, its execution was pushed back to August 1944. Though highly supported by Supreme Allied Commander General Dwight D. Eisenhower , the operation was bitterly opposed by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill . Seeing it as a waste of resources, he favored renewing the offensive in Italy or landing in the Balkans. Looking ahead to the postwar world , Churchill wished to conduct offensives that would slow the progress of the Soviet Red Army while also hurting the German war effort. These views were also shared by some in the American high command, such as Lieutenant General Mark Clark, who advocated for striking across the Adriatic Sea into the Balkans. For the opposite reasons, Russian leader Joseph Stalin supported Operation Dragoon and endorsed it at the 1943 Tehran Conference . Standing firm, Eisenhower argued that Operation Dragoon would draw German forces away from Allied advance in the north as well as would provide two badly needed ports, Marseille and Toulon, for landing supplies. Operation Dragoon - The Allied Plan: Pushing forward, the final plan for Operation Dragoon was approved on July 14, 1944.

Overseen by Lieutenant General Jacob Devers' 6th Army Group, the invasion was to be spearheaded by Major General Alexander Patch's US Seventh Army which would be followed ashore by General Jean de Lattre de Tassigny's French Army B. Learning from experiences in Normandy, planners selected landing areas that were devoid of enemy-controlled high ground. Choosing the Var coast east of Toulon, they designated three primary landing beaches: Alpha (Cavalaire-sur-Mer), Delta (Saint-Tropez), and Camel (Saint-Raphaël) ( Map ). To further aid the troops coming ashore, plans called for a large airborne force to land inland to secure the high ground behind the beaches. While these operations moved forward, commando teams were tasked with liberating several islands along the coast. The main landings were assigned respectively to the 3rd, 45th, and 36th Infantry Divisions from Major General Lucian Truscott's VI Corps with assistance from the 1st French Armoured Division. A veteran and skilled combat commander, Truscott had played a key role in rescuing Allied fortunes at Anzio earlier in the year. To support the landings, Major General Robert T.

Frederick's 1st Airborne Task Force was to drop around Le Muy, approximately halfway between Draguignan and Saint-Raphaël. After securing the town, the airborne was tasked with preventing German counterattacks against the beaches. Landing to the west, French commandos were ordered to eliminate the German batteries on Cap Nègre, while the 1st Special Service Force (Devil's Brigade) captured islands offshore. At sea, Task Force 88, led by Rear Admiral T.H. Troubridge would provide air and naval gunfire support. Operation Dragoon - German Preparations: Long a rear area, the defense of southern France was tasked to Colonel General Johannes Blaskowitz's Army Group G. Largely stripped of its frontline forces and better equipment over the previous years, Army Group G possessed eleven divisions, four of which were dubbed "static" and lacked transportation to respond to an emergency. Of its units, only Lieutenant General Wend von Wietersheim's 11th Panzer Division remained as an effective mobile force though all but one of its tank battalions had been transferred north.

Short on troops, Blaskowitz's command found itself stretched thin with each division along the coast responsible for 56 miles of shoreline. Lacking the manpower to reinforce Army Group G, the German high command openly discussed ordering it to pull back to a new line near Dijon. This was put on hold following the July 20 Plot against Hitler. Operation Dragoon - Going Ashore: Initial operations commenced on August 14 with the 1st Special Service Force landing in the Îles d'Hyères. Overwhelming the garrisons on Port-Cros and Levant, they secured both islands. Early on August 15, Allied forces began moving towards the invasion beaches. Their efforts were aided by the work of the French Resistance which had damaged communications and transportation networks in the interior. To the west, French commandos succeeded in eliminating the batteries on Cap Nègre. Later in the morning little opposition was encountered as troops came ashore on Alpha and Delta Beaches. Many of the German forces in the area were Osttruppen, drawn from German-occupied territories, who quickly surrendered. The landings on Camel Beach proved more difficult with severe fighting on Camel Red near Saint-Raphaël.

Though air support aided the effort, later landings were shifted to other parts of the beach. Unable to fully oppose the invasion, Blaskowitz began making preparations for the planned withdrawal north. To delay the Allies, he pulled together a mobile battle group. Numbering four regiments, this force attacked from Les Arcs towards Le Muy on the morning of August 16. Already badly outnumbered as Allied troops had been streaming ashore since the previous day, this force was nearly cut off and fell back that night. Near Saint-Raphaël, elements of the 148th Infantry Division also attacked but were beaten back. Advancing inland, Allied troops relieved the airborne at Le Muy the next day. Operation Dragoon - Racing North: With Army Group B in Normandy facing crisis as a result of Operation Cobra which saw Allied forces breakout of the beachhead, Hitler had no choice but to approve the full withdrawal of Army Group G on the night of August 16/17. Alerted to the German intentions through Ultra radio intercepts, Devers began pushing mobile formations forward in an effort to cut off Blaskowitz's retreat.

On August 18, Allied troops reached Digne while three days later the German 157th Infantry Division abandoned Grenoble, opening a gap on the German left flank. Continuing his retreat, Blaskowitz attempted to use the Rhone River to screen his movements. As American forces drove north, French troops moved along the coast and opened battles to retake Toulon and Marseille. After protracted fights, both cities were liberated on August 27. Seeking to slow the Allied advance, the 11th Panzer Division attacked toward Aix-en-Provence. This was halted and Devers and Patch soon learned of the gap on the German left. Assembling a mobile force dubbed Task Force Butler, they pushed it and the 36th Infantry Division through the opening with the goal of cutting off Blaskowitz at Montélimar. Stunned by this move, the German commander rushed the 11th Panzer Division to the area. Arriving, they stopped the American advance on August 24. Mounting a large-scale assault the next day, the Germans were unable to dislodge the Americans from the area. Conversely, the American forces lacked the manpower and supplies to regain the initiative.

This led to a stalemate which allowed the bulk of Army Group G to escape north by August 28. Capturing Montélimar on August 29, Devers pushed forward VI Corps and the French II Corps in pursuit of Blaskowitz. Over the ensuing days, a series of running battles occurred as both sides moved north. Lyon was liberated on September 3 and a week later, the lead elements from Operation Dragoon united with Lieutenant General George S. Patton 's US Third Army. The pursuit of Blaskowitz ended shortly thereafter when the remnants of Army Group G assumed a position in the Vosges Mountains ( Map ). Operation Dragoon - Aftermath: In conducting Operation Dragoon, the Allies sustained around 17,000 killed and wounded while inflicting losses numbering approximately 7,000 killed, 10,000 wounded, and 130,000 captured on the Germans. Shortly after their capture, work began to repair the port facilities at Toulon and Marseille. Both were open to shipping by September 20. As the railroads running north were restored, the two ports became vital supply hubs for Allied forces in France.

Though its value was debated, Operation Dragoon saw Devers and Patch clear southern France in faster than expected time while effectively gutting Army Group G. Selected Sources Operation Dragoon | Military Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia Main article: Operation Dragoon order of battle The Western Naval Task Force was formed under the command of Vice Admiral Henry Kent Hewitt to carry the U.S. 6th Army Group , also known as the Southern Group and as Dragoon Force, and created to carry out the Operation under the command of Lieutenant General Jacob L. Devers . Sixth Army Group was formed in Corsica and activated on 1 August 1944 to consolidate the French and American forces slated to invade southern France. Admiral Hewitt's naval support for the operation included USS Nevada , USS Texas , USS Arkansas , HMS Ramillies , and French battleship Lorraine with twenty cruisers for gunfire support and naval aircraft from nine escort carriers assembled as Task Force 88 . [13] It was planned that the forces of the US Seventh Army , commanded by Alexander Patch , would make the initial landing, to be followed by the French Army B commanded by Jean de Lattre de Tassigny .

[14] Accompanying the whole operation was a fully mobilized unit called "Taskforce Butler", consisting of the bulk of the Allied tanks, tank destroyers and mechanized infantry. In addition, the French Resistance of the FFI played a major role in fighting, tying down numerous German troops. [15] French resistance fighters also supplied the Allies with vital intelligence information and sabotaged German operations. [16] In conjunction with the amphibious landing, several airborne operations were planned, conducted by a combined US-British airborne unit, the 1st Airborne Task Force . [17] German 88 mm gun on the coast in southern France Opposing the Allies was the German Army Group G (Armeegruppe G). Although nominally an Army Group, Army Group G had at the time of the invasion only one Army under its command: the 19th Army , led by Friedrich Wiese . As southern France had never been important to German planning, their forces there had been stripped of nearly all their valuable units and equipment over the course of the war.

The remaining 11 divisions were understrength and only one intact Panzer Division was left, the 11th Panzer Division , which also had lost two of its tank battalions. The troops were positioned thinly along the French coast, with an average of Script error per division. Generally the troops of the German divisions were only second and third grade. This meant that over the course of the years, Germans in those divisions were sent away and replaced with wounded old veterans as well as Volksdeutsche from Poland and Czechoslovakia. There were numerous Ostlegionen inserted, as well as several units made up from volunteered Soviet prisoners of war (Ostbataillone). The equipment of those troops was in poor shape, consisting of obsolete weapons from various nations, with French, Polish, Soviet, Italian and Czech guns, artillery and mortars. Four of the German divisions were designated as "static", which meant that they were stripped of all of their mobile capabilities and unable to move from their assigned position. The only potent unit inside Army Group G was the 11th Panzer Division, which was commanded by Wend von Wietersheim .

[1] The German command chain was overly complex, with parallel chains for the occupation forces, the land forces, the Luftwaffe and the Kriegsmarine commands. As part of their defense, the Germans had several fortifications and coastal guns which they had constructed during the years of occupation. [2] The Luftwaffe as well as the Kriegsmarine played a negligible role in the operation. [3] Planning Edit Operation Dragoon Landings The preceding bombing missions together with resistance sabotage acts hit the Germans heavily, interrupting railways, damaging bridges, and disrupting the communication network. The landing started on the morning of 15 August. [12] Ships of the Western Naval Task Force approached under cover of darkness and were in position at dawn. The first of 1,300 Allied bombers from Italy, Sardinia and Corsica began aerial bombardment shortly before 0600. Bombing was nearly continuous until 0730 when battleships and cruisers launched spotting aircraft and began firing on specific targets detected by aerial surveillance. Naval gunfire ceased as the landing craft headed ashore at 0800.

The relatively steep beach gradients with small tidal range discouraged Axis placement of underwater obstacles, but landing beaches had been defensively mined. LCIs leading the first wave of landing craft fired rockets to explode land mines on the beaches to be used by following troops. [13] The assault troops were formed of three American divisions of the VI Corps , reinforced by the French 1st Armoured Division, all under the command of Lieutenant General Lucian K. Truscott, Jr. . The 3rd Infantry Division landed on the left at Alpha Beach ( Cavalaire-sur-Mer ), the 45th Infantry Division landed in the centre at Delta Beach (Saint-Tropez), and the 36th Infantry Division landed on the right at Camel Beach ( Saint-Raphaël ). [11] File:Seconde-guerre-mondiale-dragoon-cavalaire-15aout1944.jpg The landings were overwhelmingly successful. On Delta and Alpha beaches, German resistance was low. The Osttruppen surrendered quickly, and the biggest threat to the Allies were the mines. A single German gun as well as a mortar position was silenced by destroyer fire.

The Allied units in this sector were able to link up with the paratroopers very quickly and succeeded in capturing the nearby towns. Only on Camel Beach did the Germans put up some serious resistance. This beach was secured by several well emplaced coastal guns as well as several flak batteries. Here too, the Osttruppen surrendered quickly; the German artillery formed the main opposition and some bunkers provided heavy resistance. [11] The most serious fighting was on Camel Red Beach at the town of Saint-Raphaël . A bombing run of 90 Allied B-24 bombers were used against a German strongpoint here. But even with the assistance of naval fire, the Allies were not able to bring the landing ships close to the beach. They decided to avoid Camel Red and land only at Camel Blue and Camel Green, which was successful. The Allied casualties at the landings were very light, with only 95 killed and 385 wounded. 40 of those casualties were caused by a Henschel Hs 293 launched from a Do-217 , which sank the USS LST-282 . [11] Parallel to the main landings, several special force missions were carried out.

At Cap Nègre to the west of the main invasion, a large group of French commandos destroyed German artillery emplacements ( Operation Romeo ). These commandos were supported by other French commando teams that landed on both flanks. In one of those missions, 67 French commandos were taken prisoner after they ran into a minefield. The airborne and glider landings ( Mission Dove , Mission Albatross and Mission Bluebird) around the area of Le Muy accompanying the whole operation, were as successful as the beach landings, with only 434 dead, mostly due to the hazardous landing conditions and not to German resistance. [14] German counterattacks Jean de Lattre de Tassigny walking through the liberated Marseille Meanwhile the disembarked French units started to head for the two ports. The initial plan was for the ports to be captured in succession, but the unexpected Allied advance allowed the French commander Lattre de Tassigny to attack both ports almost simultaneously. He split his forces into two units, with Joseph de Goislard de Monsabert tasked to take Toulon from the east while Edgard de Larminat had to drive north to encircle the city at the flanks.

The Germans had a significant force stationed in both cities, but they had not enough time to prepare for a determined defense. After heavy fighting around Hyères , which temporarily stopped the advance, French forces approached Toulon on 19 August. At the same time, Monsabert swung around the city, enveloped it and cut off the highway between Toulon and Marseille. On 21 August, the French pressed into Toulon, and heavy fighting ensued. The heavy German resistance led to an argument between Larminat and de Tassigny, after which de Tassigny took over direct command over the operation, dismissing Larminat. By 26 August the remaining German units had surrendered. The battle for Toulon cost the French 2,700 casualties, but they captured 17,000 Germans, with the Germans losing their entire garrison of 18,000 men. [20] At the same time, Monsabert's attempt to liberate Marseille commenced. At first a German force at Aubagne was defeated, before French troops attacked the city. Unlike at Toulon, the German commander at Marseille did not evacuate the civilian population, which became increasingly hostile.

The resulting fighting with FFI troops further weakened the German units, which were exhausted from partisan fighting. The Wehrmacht was not able to defend on a broad front and soon crumbled into numerous isolated strongpoints. On 27 August most of the city was liberated, with only some small strongpoints remaining, and on 28 August the official surrender was issued. The battle caused 1,825 French casualties, but 11,000 German troops were captured. [21] In both harbours, German engineers had demolished port facilities to deny the use of the ports to the Allies. [22] The battle at Montélimar Edit Allied advance until mid September While Marseille and Toulon were liberated, the German retreat continued. The 11th Panzer Division started several feint attacks toward Aix-en-Provence to discourage any further Allied advance. By doing so, LXXXV Corps as well as the IV Luftwaffe Field Corps were able to successfully retreat from the Allied advance at the Rhone. The Allies were unsure about the German intentions, but by 22 August Truscott decided to pursue the Germans with his three divisions from VI Corps.

However, still unsure about the German intentions, the Allies missed several opportunities to cut off the retreating German forces of the LXXXV Corps. [23] While VI Corps was pursuing the Germans from behind, Taskforce Butler recognized the open German flank at the east of the Rhone near Grenoble. The Taskforce advanced in this direction, paralleling the German evacuation effort. While doing so, it fought some scattered German resistance, and finally found itself near Montélimar, a small city on the east bank of the Rhone River. This town lay directly on the German escape route. Following Taskforce Butler was the 36th Infantry Division. Together they were tasked on 20 August to block the German force at Montélimar. By this time, the forward Allied forces suffered from a serious lack of fuel and supplies, after having advanced with unexpected speed. [24] On 21 August, Taskforce Butler occupied the hills north of the town, according to revised orders from Truscott, as Taskforce Butler was considered too weak to block the entire German force marching north. From this position Taskforce Butler fired on the evacuating German troops, while waiting for further reinforcements.

Troops from the FFI supported the Americans, harassing German troops through the entire battle. The sudden appearance of this new threat shocked Wiese and the German command. As a first countermeasure, Wietersheim's 11th Panzer division was called in. The first of its units to arrive, together with several ad hoc Luftwaffe battle groups, were tasked to deal with this new threat. An attack against Puy was mounted the same day by this hastily assembled force, and the Germans were able to cut off Taskforce Butler from supplies. This success was however short-lived, and the Germans were pushed back soon after. [25] On 22 August, the first units of the 36th Division arrived, reinforcing Taskforce Butler. However, the Allied troops were still short of supplies and lacked enough men to directly attack the German escape route. During the next days, more men and supplies would trickle in for the Allies. At the same time, the US 45th Division took over positions at Grenoble, leaving the 36th Division free to fully commit its forces at Montélimar.

Meanwhile, the Germans also struggled to bring the 11th Panzer Division through the chaos of the evacuation into position at Montélimar. By 24 August a substantial amount of the 11th Panzer Division had finally reached the battle area. [26] On 23 August, Taskforce Butler was officially dissolved and its units were taken over by John E. Dahlquist , commander of the 36th Infantry Division. For the rest of the day small skirmishes occurred between German and Allied forces. On 24 August Dahlquist tried to launch an attack against Montélimar, which failed. The German counter-attack was able to make some ground against the hills occupied by the Allies. After the battle the Germans captured a copy of Dahlquist’s operational plans, giving them a better picture of the Allied forces. As result, a large attack was planned by Wiese for the 25 August with the 11th Panzer as well as the 198th Infantry Division together with some more ad hoc Luftwaffe battlegroups. This attack however was also a big failure.

The Allies struck back, retook the hills and were able to establish a temporary roadblock on the German escape route. This Allied success also did not last long, as another ad hoc attack led by Wietersheim reopened the passage at midnight. [27] The next day, Truscott finally allowed reinforcements from the 45th Division to support Dahlquist at Montélimar. At the same time, the Germans also reinforced their fighting force. Over the next days a stalemate emerged, with the Allies unable to block the retreat route and the Germans unable to clear the area of the Allied forces. Both sides however became increasingly frustrated during the fighting, and on 26 August an angry Truscott even arrived at Dahlquist's headquarters to relieve him from command. However on seeing the heavy terrain and shattered forces he refrained, leaving the headquarters again. Finally from 26–28 August, the majority of the German forces was able to escape and on 29 August the Allies captured Montélimar. The Germans suffered 2,100 battle casualties plus 8,000 POWs, while the Americans had 1,575 casualties.

[28] [29] Final German retreat towards the Vosges Mountains Operation Dragoon veterans remembered | Article | The United States Army Operation Dragoon veterans remembered Share via Email 1 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Veterans and Soldiers render salute at the memorial ceremony marking the 66th anniversary of Operation Dragoon, the Allied invasion of Southern France that began Aug. 15, 1944. Members of the 3rd Infantry Division, as well as veterans from 7th Army, XII Tactical Air Command, the 8th Fleet, and representatives from countries that participated in the 90,000-troop amphibious landing gathered to honor those who participated in the World War II operation, Aug. 8-10. (Photo Credit: Sgt. Patience Okhuofu, 3rd Sustainment Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs) VIEW ORIGINAL 2 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Major General (Ret.) Lloyd Ramsey, visits Arlington National Cemetery with Command Sgt. Maj. Ashmen, 3rd Infantry Division command sergeant major-rear, for the 66th anniversary commemoration of Operation Dragoon.

Ramsey, a Marne Division veteran, along with four other Operation Dragoon veterans, was presented with the French Legion of Honor medal by the deputy French Ambassador to the U.S. (Photo Credit: Sgt. Patience Okhuofu, 3rd Sustainment Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs) VIEW ORIGINAL 3 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Dr. François Rivasseau, deputy French Ambassador to the U.S., pins the French Legion of Honor medal, the highest decoration bestowed by France, on Col. (Ret.) Douglas Dillard, a veteran of the 3rd Infantry Division who fought in Operation Dragoon during World War II. (Photo Credit: Sgt. Patience Okhuofu, 3rd Sustainment Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs) VIEW ORIGINAL 4 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers with Company E, of the 3rd U.S. Infantry (The Old Guard), carry a wreath donated by the 3rd Infantry Division to the the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery, marking the 66th anniversary of Operation Dragoon, Aug. 10. (Photo Credit: Sgt.

Patience Okhuofu, 3rd Sustainment Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs) VIEW ORIGINAL 5 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Brigadier General Jeffrey Phillips, 3rd Infantry Division deputy commanding general-rear; Dr. François Rivasseau, Deputy French Ambassador to the U.S.; Col. (Ret.) Henry Bodson, a Marne Division Operation Dragoon veteran; and Jacques Bompard, a representative from France; render salute at the 3rd ID monument at Arlington Cemetery during the 66th anniversary of Operation Dragoon, Aug. 10. Members of the Society of the 3rd ID, veterans from 7th Army, XII Tactical Air Command, the 8th Fleet, and representatives from countries that participated in the 90,000-troop amphibious landing gathered to honor those who participated in the World War II operation. (Photo Credit: Sgt. Patience Okhuofu, 3rd Sustainment Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs) VIEW ORIGINAL WASHINGTON, DC.

- The 66th Annual Reunion of Operation Dragoon, one of the most successful but controversial campaigns of World War II, was held at the Hyatt Regency in Roslyn, Va., Aug. 8-10. Operation Dragoon was the Allied invasion of Southern France that began Aug. 15, 1944. The invasion was initiated with an amphibious assault by elements of the U.S. Seventh Army, with a follow-up force made up primarily of the French First Army. More than 90,000 U.S. troops from the 3rd, 36th and the 45th Infantry Divisions fought alongside the French. Its success opened a second front in France allowing for logistical support to all Allied forces operating in France. Dspite being a large, complex military operation with a well-executed amphibious and airborne component, Operation Dragoon still remains largely unknown to this day. Operation Dragoon's controversy is its importance to the war. Opponents believe that the invasion of Southern France did nothing but reduce the strength of the main Allied Campaign in the Mediterranean, the drive north up the Italian peninsula toward Austria and Hungary.

On the other hand, defenders of the operation believed that even if the Italian campaign could have being accelerated, the operational and logistical difficulties of rapidly crossing the Julian Alps would have been impossible. Captain (Ret.) Monika Stoy, president of Outpost 5845 Europe, Society of the 3rd Infantry Division and host of the ceremony, started attending celebrations in Normandy in 1989 and every year since then, witnessed the respect, admiration and gratitude of the French people to whom they believe were their liberators. Stoy and her husband, Lt. Col. Tim Stoy, took it upon themselves to write letters to the mayors of the 250 communities that were liberated, according to the 3rd Infantry Division history. Through their dedication and hard work, 61 memorial plaques have being put in place in France, Germany and Austria since May of 2006, plaques that honor the 3rd ID veterans of Operation Dragoon. The three-day event was aimed at honoring the veterans, preserving history and sharing knowledge. Approximately nine historians and 20 veterans were in attendance. Testimonies of Operation Dragoon's veterans were paired with the information from historians.

"This is my first time here [at the reunion], and I am learning a lot," said Bill Davis, an Operation Dragoon veteran. The first two days saw various speakers at the podium talking about several topics, from the Big Picture of WWII in Europe and the Pacific, to the First French Army operation. At the end of the second day of seminars, a wreath laying ceremony was held at the WWII Memorial in Washington, D.C. A memorial ceremony was held at Arlington National Cemetery on the third day of the reunion. "It was an emotional rollercoaster," said Operation Dragoon veteran, Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Dave Grange said. "It is a special place for me, and someday I would be there with my comrades." During the memorial ceremony, Dr. FranAfASois Rivasseau, Deputy French Ambassador to the U.S. presented the French Legion of Honor medal, the highest decoration bestowed by France for Military service to Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Richard Seitz, Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Lloyd Ramsey, Col. (Ret.) Douglas Dillard, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Sherman Pratt, Medal of Honor recipient Master Sgt. (Ret.) Wilburn Ross, and James Welsh.

"Operation Dragoon is a superb example of a successfully analyzed cooperation, the same principle we apply in Europe today where we work so closely together as Allies and partners in operations not only in Europe but around the globe," said Gen. Carter Ham, current head of U.S. Army Forces in Europe. He thanked the veterans and their Family Members for all they have done. "Those of us who serve today in the United States Army and all the United States Armed Forces and especially those of us who are honored and privileged to serve in Europe, recognize that we are heirs of a proud legacy by those who fought in Southern France in Operation Dragoon." Brigadier General Jeffrey Phillips, 3rd ID deputy commanding general-rear, spoke at the event. "We are today a nation at war; we are locked in a struggle that could define our existence," he said. "Perhaps it was more black and white 66 years ago; perhaps it was not, but it was a struggle for our way of life, a struggle to help those who perhaps could not help themselves." Brigadier General Phillips also mentioned that like most people, he did not know much about Operation Dragoon prior to this event and that he was glad he came.

"My generation will do a better job to tell your story; I give you my word on that because I am a 3rd Infantry Soldier and because I am an American, a free American because of your efforts," he said to the Dragoon veterans. "We owe you great thanks for what you have done." RELATED STORIES Allied Invasion of Southern France - Operation Dragoon, the Other D-Day | World War II Social Place Allied Invasion of Southern France - Operation Dragoon, the Other D-Day This video presents the story of Operation Dragoon in World War II. The original title of this video is: "Command Decision: The Invasion of Southern France (1963)". The documentary is a part of "The Big Picture" series produced by the U.S. Army. About Operation Dragoon: Operation Dragoon was the Allied invasion of southern France on 15 August 1944, during World War II. The invasion was initiated via a parachute drop by the 1st Airborne Task Force, followed by an amphibious assault by elements of the U.S. Seventh Army, followed a day later by a force made up primarily of the French First Army.

The landing caused the German Army Group G to abandon southern France and to retreat under constant Allied attacks to the Vosges Mountains. Despite being a large and complex military operation with a well-executed amphibious and airborne component, Operation Dragoon is not well known; it came in the later stages of the war and was overshadowed by the earlier and larger Operation Overlord. During planning stages, the operation was known as "Anvil", to complement Operation Sledgehammer, at that time the code name for the invasion of Normandy. Subsequently, both plans were renamed, Sledgehammer becoming Operation Overlord, and Anvil becoming Operation Dragoon. Operation Dragoon was controversial from the time it was first proposed. The American military leadership and their British counterparts disagreed on the operation. Churchill argued against it on the grounds that it diverted military resources that were better deployed in the on-going Allied operations in Italy; instead, he favoured an invasion of the oil-producing regions of the Balkans. Churchill reasoned that by attacking the Balkans, the western Allies could deny Germany oil, forestall the advance of the Red Army of the Soviet Union, and achieve a superior negotiating position in post-war Europe, all at a single stroke.

At the time Operation Anvil was first considered, the Allied landing at Anzio had gone badly and planning was put on ice. The operation, now renamed Dragoon, was revived after the successful execution of the Normandy landings, which freed vital amphibious assets. In addition, the Allies were struggling to resupply their growing forces in France, because the Germans had destroyed the port facilities at Cherbourg and a storm had damaged the artificial harbour at Omaha Beach. This made seizure and control of the French ports at Marseilles and Toulon increasingly attractive. The French leaders pressed for an invasion in southern France too. Finally on 14 July 1944 the operation was authorized by the Allied Combined Chiefs of Staff. Prior to the main invasion, the navy insisted that the Hyères Islands, Port-Cros and Levant, had to be neutralized. The guns of the German garrisons on both islands could reach the proposed Allied landing area and the sea lanes that the troops would follow. The First Special Service Force, a joint U.S.-Canadian special forces unit trained in amphibious assault and mountaineering, received the order to take the islands as part of Operation Sitka.

The preceding bombing missions together with resistance sabotage acts hit the Germans badly, interrupting railways, damaging bridges, and disrupting the communication network. The landing started on the morning of 15 August. The landings were overwhelmingly successful. On Delta and Alpha beaches, German resistance was low. The Osttruppen surrendered quickly, and the biggest threat to the Allies were the mines. A single German gun as well as a mortar position was silenced by destroyer fire. The Allied units in this sector were able to link up with the paratroopers very quickly and succeeded in capturing the nearby towns. Only on Camel Beach did the Germans put up some serious resistance. This beach was secured by several well emplaced coastal guns as well as several flak batteries. Here too, the Osttruppen surrendered quickly; the German artillery formed the main opposition and some bunkers provided heavy resistance. The most serious fighting was on Camel Red Beach at the town of Saint-Raphaël. A bombing run of 90 Allied B-24 bombers were used against a German strongpoint here. But even with the assistance of naval fire, the Allies were not able to bring the landing ships close to the beach.

They decided to avoid Camel Red and land only at Camel Blue and Camel Green, which was successful. The Allied casualties at the landings were very light, with only 95 killed and 385 wounded... (see more at: ) Source: Invasion of Southern France | World War II Database World War II Database Contributor: C. Peter Chen ww2dbaseThe heavy casualties incurred during the grueling Italian campaign placed a strain on the American democratic political machine and displeased American generals. At the objection of British counterparts, American Lieutenant General Jacob Dever's 6th Army Group (consisted of Lieutenant General Alexander Patch's US 7th Army, General Jean de Lattre de Tassigny's French 1st Army, and the 1st Allied Airborne Task Force) shifted its attention to southern France in Operation Dragoon (originally named Operation Anvil). The American planners wanted Dever's 887-ship and 2,000-aircraft landing operation to compliment the Normandy campaign, which the slow-moving Italian campaign was not able to do.

ww2dbaseGeneral Bernard Montgomery wrote Dwight Eisenhower on 21 Feb 1944 "I recommend very strongly that we now throw the whole weight of our opinion into the scales against Anvil." This recommendation was consistent to the general objection to this campaign shown by the British. In a communication between Churchill and Eisenhower, the British Prime Minister stated that ww2dbase"[w]e no longer had any need of the port of Marseille and the line of communication leading northward from it.

Troops from America could come in via Brittany." ww2dbase"The attack through the south of France was far removed geographically from the troops in northern France that there was no tactical connection between them." ww2dbase"The troops to be used under General Devers in the southern invasion would have more effect in winning the war by driving forward in Italy and into the Balkans and threatening Germany from the south than they would by pursuing the originally planned line of action." ww2dbase"Our entry into the Balkans would encourage that entire region to flame into open revolt against Hitler and would permit us to carry to the resistance forces arms and equipment which would make the efforts of these forces more effective." ww2dbaseHowever, Eisenhower overruled the British objections and decided to carry out the operation; he was said to be partially distrustful of the British intentions for a Balkans entry into Europe, for that he thought Britain may have had imperialistic ambitions. This incident of Eisenhower overruling British opposition was yet another signal that the United States was not only coming to age as a dominant world power, but she was taking over Britain's place as the more influential member of the alliance.

ww2dbaseEisenhower argued for taking Marseille for the fact that the Germans had already sent a portion of the area's defenses northward to reinforce the Normandy region, leaving Marseille vulnerable and free of the threat of German demolition. The elimination of German forces in southern France in general would give the Normandy landers much needed relief on their southern flank, granting much safety for a strong supply line. ww2dbaseOn 15 Aug 1944, the landing troops sailed from Corsica surprised the German and Vichy French defenders at the French Riviera (Cavalaire-sur-Mer, Saint-Tropez, and Saint-Raphaï¿½l beaches). Within the first two days thousands of men and vehicles were transported ashore, and the port cities of Toulon and Marseille were under Allied control by the end of the month. With the intelligence information provided by local French Resistance, the Dragoon landers were able to connect with Patton's American forces near Dijon by 15 Sep.

ww2dbaseMain German defenders in the southern France region were of General Johannes Blaskowitz's Army Group G, which was consisted of General Kurt von der Chevallerie's 1st Army and General Friedrich Wiese's 19th Army. Army Group G's ranks were thinned as elements were sent to northern France to counter the Normandy invasion, which provided lighter resistance for the Allies than originally expected. In a month's time, the thinned German defenses fell apart in southern France, effectively dissolving the Vichy-French government. The successful Allied operations in southern France also inspired a revolt by resistance fighters in Paris. ww2dbaseOperation Dragoon included a glider landing (Operation Dove) and a deception (Operation Span). ww2dbaseSources: Alan Chanter says: 12 Nov 2009 08:07:42 AM Hindsight indicates that the invasion hardly drew any German reserves from the main front and the retreating formations slipped into position on the left flank of the German forces defending their western frontier.

Montgomery voiced the general British opinion that Anvil was one of the great strategic mistakes of the war, the withdrawal from Italy of the US Divisions and the entire French Expeditionary Force needlessly prolonged that campaign so that the Russians reached Vienna first and had a free hand in the Balkans, with vital post-war repercussions. 2. S. Margalith says: 26 Oct 2010 01:37:30 PM Do you have a photo of aHiggins boat (LCVP)being hoisted out of the wster near San Rafael zafter Southern France invasion? 3. Ray says: 8 May 2013 11:24:14 PM Ww2db the most interesting and user friendly war site._ 4. William P Kenda says: 20 Jan 2014 12:15:36 PM My father was in the invasion on southern France as a member of the USN UDT doing explosive ordinance disposal. Could you direct me to any reference material that discusses their efforts during the invasion? 5.

larry says: 14 Aug 2016 10:04:08 PM If only 13000 men came ashore, who drove the extra 5000 vehicles out of the 18000 that were put ashore? 6. S.A. Dunford says: 3 Sep 2016 10:03:51 AM to William P Kenda- Would love to talk with you about your father. Actually,the Navy's demolition men were from Navy Combat Demolition Units although frequently inaccurately called UDT ( exclusively served in the Pacific). Check out More Than Scuttlebutt on the net. All visitor submitted comments are opinions of those making the submissions and do not reflect views of WW2DB. Posting Your Comments on this Topic Your Name Operation Dragoon - World War II - YouTube Operation Dragoon - World War II Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. The interactive transcript could not be loaded. Loading... Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later.

Uploaded on Dec 4, 2011 "The Big Picture" documentary about Operation Dragoon during World War II involving the Allied invasion of southern France on August 15, 1944. The invasion was initiated via a parachute drop by the 1st Airborne Task Force, followed by an amphibious assault by elements of the U.S. Seventh Army, followed a day later by a force made up primarily of the French First Army. It enabled them to liberate most of France in a timespan of only four weeks, while inflicting heavy casualties to the German forces. U.S. Army / Department of Defense film USA Patriotism! America and Military Themed Gifts and Collectibles Category Operation Dragoon | Video | C-SPAN.org Supreme Court August 5, 2009 Operation Dragoon Panelists discussed Operation Dragoon, the Allied invasion of Southern France during World War II on August 15, 1944. It was a… read more Operation Dragoon Panelists discussed Operation Dragoon, the Allied invasion of Southern France during World War II on August 15, 1944. It was a controversial operation as U.S.

and British military planners did not agree on the objectives. Ultimately the operation successfully helped liberate occupied France. This program was part of a formal 65th anniversary commemoration of Operation Dragoon, the first every held for what scholars and historians often refer to as the forgotten D-Day. During the first part of the program foreign dignitaries spoke and the U.S. Army Freedom Team Salute delivered commendations. Then a roundtable discussion was held by historians. These events were held from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the Fort Myer Officers Club Ballroom. close Transcript type HD Stock Video Footage - Allied troops landing in Southern France during Operation Dragoon of World War 2 Allied troops landing in Southern France during Operation Dragoon of World War 2 Location: Southern France Duration: 2 min 10 sec Sound: Yes Allied Invasion of Southern France during Operation Dragoon of World War II on 15 and 16 August 1944. Invasion begins. Warships fire heavy naval guns and barrages of rockets. Landing craft carrying men and equipment, race toward the beach. Troops descend on nets from transport vessels. Boats being lowered at sea. Allied aircraft in flight drop bombs.

Destroyer and PT boats escort some landing craft . American and French troops encounter no German resistance, except some rear guard sniping, as they advance on shore. 100 foot floating causeways are dropped into the water. Men and supplies landed. Mine detectors clear the roads. German prisoners were herded on beach for removal to ships. Animated map depicts the advancement in the Operation in its first 48 hours. This historic stock footage available in HD and SD video. View pricing below video player. Have a correction or more info about this clip? Operation Dragoon | World War II Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia Edit The invasion began with a parachute drop by the 1st Airborne Task Force , and was followed by an amphibious assault by the US Seventh Army and a day later by the First French Army . [N 2] The landings forced the German Army Group G to abandon Southern France and retreat to the Vosges Mountains. Despite liberating Southern France, Operation Dragoon is not well known, as most of the attention is payed to Operation Overlord . Casualties were comparatively light, with the target being secured after only eight days. [1] Notes

Question: The WW2 allied invasion of where was titled Operation Dragoon?
Answer: Southern France